Electronic camera

ABSTRACT

An electronic camera for coupling with a printer including a recording medium for recording a plurality of images and a menu switch for displaying, on a display device, a page of a menu applicable to select an item of SINGLE PRINT for printing only a selected image, of the plurality of images recorded on the recording medium and another page of a menu applicable to select another item of PRINT ALL for printing all the images recorded on the recording medium.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/149,618, filed Sep. 8, 1998, which is incorporated byreference as if fully set forth.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic camera and, moreparticularly, to an electronic camera for reconstructing an image file,outputting it to a printer for printing it.

[0003] In recent years, electronic cameras for electrically recording anoptical image of a subject by converting the image into an electricalsignal using the photoelectric conversion action of a semiconductorrepresented by silicon have practically been used instead of so-calledsilver salt cameras for recording an image on a film using the chemicalphotosensitive action of silver halide. Of such electronic cameras,so-called digital cameras for digitally recording an electrical signalare becoming a major stream.

[0004] In such a digital electronic camera, image information of asubject is digitally recorded on a recording medium fixedly ordetachably mounted on the camera body. The recorded image data istransferred to a general-purpose personal computer (to be referred to asa PC hereinafter) by cable connection, radio (in many cases, infraredray) communication, or the like via a data communication port formed ata proper portion of the camera body.

[0005] When the recording medium can be detached, data can also betransferred by removing the recording medium (in many cases, formed in acard shape) from the camera and reading data from the recording mediumusing a proper data reader (drive).

[0006] In the PC, the transferred image data is freely displayed on thedisplay, processed (edited), saved, or printed out using a printerconnected to the PC.

[0007] Since the electronic camera has a function as an image inputdevice to the PC, image data is generally treated as a file similarly tothe PC. One still image typically corresponds to one file.

[0008] In the electronic camera, the image data is accompanied withattendant data. The most typical attendant data is data related to theimage-pickup date and time for the image data (also referred to as datedata or “date”). The date data is recorded using a timepiece functionincorporated in the camera.

[0009] In a conventional silver salt camera (at least before the adventof a recent advanced photo system), the date can only be technicallyrecorded by superimposing the date as an image (character pattern) on afilm. For this reason, a “date-imprinted photograph” in which the dateis superimposed as a character at one corner of the photograph is verypopular. Whether the date character is superimposed is inevitablydetermined in photographing (film exposure), and cannot be changed afterthat.

[0010] To the contrary, in the electronic camera, since the image itselfis digitized, as described above, the date and time can be recordedwithout superimposing them on image data by adding digital data aboutdate information as attendant data to image data and processing thesedata as one image file. Accordingly, whether the date character issuperimposed on the image can be arbitrarily selected in display orprinting, and the date data can be used to manage the image in areconstruction device (e.g., the camera itself or the PC).

[0011] In an actual camera, if necessary, various image-pickup data,e.g., the frame number, so-called comment data as recording contentsarbitrarily input by the camera operator, data about the image qualitysuch as the number of pixels and the compression ratio, exposure datasuch as the shutter speed, the f-number, and the electronic flash, lensdata such as the subject distance, the lens focal length, and macroimage pickup, data about the white balance and the light source, andimage-pickup mode data such as the self-timer and a set of seriespictures or a set of related pictures are employed as attendant date inaddition to the date data.

[0012] In an electronic camera using a conventional general PC, whensuch attendant data is to be displayed or printed, how to display orprint the data can be freely optimized in software in use. That is,since the display window area of the general PC has a sufficientresolution and a wide area, a plurality of images can be simultaneouslydisplayed, and the print mode and the operation menu can besimultaneously displayed in a space other than the images.

[0013] Recently, in addition to PC users, general users have alsodemanded electronic cameras, and an apparatus (to be referred to as adirect print apparatus hereinafter) for printing an image by connectingthe camera and the printer directly via a cable or radio communicationwithout any PC is receiving a great deal of attention. In an electroniccamera having this function, the image display is only a displayincorporated in the electronic camera body. The major stream of theimage display incorporated in the electronic camera body is a 2″ or lesscolor LCD because the usable device is limited by the size, cost, power,and the like. Therefore, simple display must be implemented within thelimited display performance (resolution and area).

[0014] One example of the implementation is a so-called hierarchicalmenu wherein, instead of simultaneously displaying all the menus of onerelated operation, a limited number of menus are displayed in one windowcalled a page which includes a menu for shifting to the next page orreturning to the previous page by selecting and executing this menu.

[0015] As is well known, the electronic camera has a variety offunctions, and the number of functions tends to increase even before theadvent of the direct print function. In the prior art, the wholeoperation cannot be made simple even with various implementations.

[0016] In employing the direct print function, it is therefore veryeffective for technical significance to simplify operation and displayand decrease the number of operation procedures.

SUMMARY

[0017] It is an object of the present invention to provide an electroniccamera with good operability which facilitates identification of whetherattendant data is superimposed on image data in printing.

[0018] According to the present invention, there is provided anelectronic camera comprising an image sensing unit for sensing an image,a recording medium for storing an image file including image dataobtained by the image sensing unit and attendant data, a reconstructionunit for reconstructing the image file from the recording medium andoutputting the reconstructed image file to a printer, a display unit fordisplaying the image data and attendant data of the image file, aselection unit for selecting a first print mode of printing only theimage data in printing by the printer, and a second print mode ofsuperimposing and printing the attendant data on the image data inprinting, and a control unit for selectively executing the first printmode and the second print mode in accordance with selection of theselection unit, wherein when the first print mode is selected, thecontrol unit executes a first display mode of superimposing anddisplaying the attendant data of the image file on the image data for apredetermined period after start of display of the image file on thedisplay unit, and displaying only the image data, and when the secondprint mode is selected, executes a second display mode of alwayssuperimposing and displaying the attendant data of the image file on theimage data during display of the image file on the display unit.

[0019] In the electronic camera, the attendant data is data including atleast one of a date and time.

[0020] In the electronic camera, in the first display mode, attendantdata is superimposed and displayed on image data for a predeterminedperiod in response to a predetermined operation, and then the displaywindow returns to display of only the image in which no attendant datais superimposed on the image data.

[0021] According to the present invention, the first print mode ofprinting only image data in printing, or the second print mode ofsuperimposing and printing attendant data on image data in printing isselected by the selection unit. When the first print mode is selected,the first display mode is set to superimpose and display the attendantdata of an image file on the image data for a predetermined period afterthe start of display of the image file on the display, and to switch thedisplay window to display of only the image data. When the second printmode is selected, the second display mode is set to always superimposeand display the attendant data of an image file on the image data duringdisplay of the image file on the display, and to print the image file byreconstructing an image file having the attendant data independently ofthe image data and outputting the image file to a printer.

[0022] The attendant data includes at least one of the date and thetime.

[0023] In the first display mode, the attendant data is superimposed anddisplayed on the image data for a predetermined period in response to apredetermined operation, and then the display window returns to displayof only an image in which no attendant data is superimposed on the imagedata.

[0024] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferredembodiments of the invention, and together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentsgiven below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0026]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an electroniccamera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the front-side outerappearance of the electronic camera according to the embodiment;

[0028]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the rear-side outerappearance of the electronic camera according to the embodiment;

[0029]FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing a print menu displayed on thedisplay of the electronic camera according to the embodiment;

[0030]FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are views showing examples of selectableitems on the first page of the print menu in the embodiment;

[0031]FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are views showing examples of the menu ofthe electronic camera according to the embodiment; and

[0032]FIG. 7 is a view showing image data on which date data issuperimposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the several views of the accompanying drawing.

[0034] An electronic camera 1 is constituted as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.More specifically, an optical system 2 comprises a focusing lens foradjusting the focal point in order to form a subject image on an imagingplane (to be described later), and faces an image sensing unit 3 forphotoelectrically converting the subject image formed on the imagingplane by the optical system 2 and further converting the analog signalinto a digital signal. The image sensing unit 3 is connected to a signalprocessing unit 4 for performing various processes for the digitalsignal output from the image sensing unit 3. The signal processing unit4 is connected to an encoding/decoding unit 5 for performing encoding tocompress output data from the signal processing unit 4 and decoding todecompress data compressed and recorded. The encoding/decoding unit 5 isconnected to a recording medium 6 constituted by, e.g., a flash memorywhich records and saves data encoded by the encoding/decoding unit 5 andis incorporated in or detachably mounted on the electronic camera 1. Theencoding/decoding unit 5 is also connected to a printer interface 19 foroutputting data decoded by the encoding/decoding unit 5 to an externalprinter connected to the electronic camera 1.

[0035] A display control unit 7 outputs a signal for displaying an imageupon reception of an output from the signal processing unit 4, andincorporates a character generator for generating a frame number displaycharacter and the like. A display 8 is controlled based on an outputfrom the display control unit 7, and is constituted by, e.g., an LCDarranged on the rear side of the electronic camera 1 in order to displayan image, a frame number, and the like.

[0036] A power supply recognition/determination unit 20 is arranged todetermine whether the electronic camera 1 is driven by a battery 21 oran external power supply, and to recognize the residual battery amountand output it to a control unit 10 (to be described later) by measuringthe voltage upon battery driving. A focusing motor 9 is arranged todrive the focusing lens of the optical system 2.

[0037] The control unit 10 is connected to the image sensing unit 3, thesignal processing unit 4, the encoding/decoding unit 5, the recordingmedium 6, the display control unit 7, and the power supplyrecognition/determination unit 20, and integrally controls theelectronic camera 1 in association with switches 11 to 18.

[0038] The image-pickup/reconstruction switch 11 is arranged to switchthe mode of the electronic camera 1 between image-pickup andreconstruction modes. The increment switch 12 is arranged to incrementan item whose order is defined, e.g., the frame number, whereas thedecrement switch 13 is arranged to decrement it. The trigger switch 14is arranged to input an instruction for instructing an image-pickup anda recording operation to the electronic camera 1. The power supplyswitch 15 is arranged to input a command of turning on/off the mainpower supply of the electronic camera 1. The menu switch 16 is arrangedto display various setting menus on the display 8, and the print switch17 is arranged to display a setting print menu on the display 8 inprinting from an external printer. The execution switch 18 is arrangedto determine and execute items and the like selected on the menu and theprint menu.

[0039] The power supply switch 15 is arranged as a depression buttonswitch at almost the center of the top of the electronic camera 1. Theimage-pickup/reconstruction switch 11 is arranged as a substantiallyring-like pivot switch around the power supply switch 15. The triggerswitch 14 is arranged as a depression switch at a position where theuser can depress it with the user's forefinger when gripping theelectronic camera 1 with his or her right hand. The print switch 17, theincrement switch 12, the decrement switch 13, and the execution switch18 are sequentially aligned as depression switches from the top to thebottom on the right side of the display 8.

[0040] The image-pickup operation of the electronic camera 1 having thisarrangement will be explained.

[0041] In an image pickup, the mode of the electronic camera 1 is set atthe image-pickup mode by the image-pickup/reconstruction switch 11.Then, power is supplied to the image sensing system including the imagesensing unit 3 and the focusing motor 9. A subject image formed on theimaging plane of the image sensing unit 3 by the optical system 2 isconverted into a digital image signal by the image sensing unit 3, andthe digital image signal is output to the signal processing unit 4. Thedigital image signal is processed by the signal processing unit 4 anddisplayed on the display 8 via the display control unit 7. The userdetermines, e.g., the composition of the subject while seeing thedisplay on the display 8.

[0042] The output from the signal processing unit 4 is also input to thecontrol unit 10, and the control unit 10 determines whether the focalposition is proper. When the focal position is improper, the controlunit 11 controls the focusing motor 9 to drive the focusing lens of theoptical system 2 to an in-focus position.

[0043] When the focal position, the composition, and the like areproper, and the user depresses the trigger switch 14 to record theimage, the image signal of the signal processing unit 4 is encoded bythe encoding/decoding unit 5, and the encoded signal is recorded as,e.g., one file unit per image on the recording medium 6 on the basis ofa predetermined format.

[0044] At this time, the image file includes image data, and ifnecessary, attendant data such as date data, the frame number, commentdata, image quality data (e.g., the number of pixels and the compressionratio), exposure data (e.g., the shutter speed, the f-number, and theelectronic flash), lens data (e.g., the subject distance, the lens focallength, and the macro image pickup), data about the white balance andthe light source, and image-pickup mode data (e.g., the self-timer, aset of series pictures, and a set of related pictures). Of theseattendant data, date data is generated by a timepiece incorporated inthe electronic camera, and comment data or image quality data ismanually set by the user. Exposure data, lens data, white balance data,image-pickup mode data, and the frame number are automatically set byvarious function control devices inside the camera. To add these data tothe image file, the data are temporarily stored in a memory incorporatedin the control unit by the control unit 10 upon the image pickup,transferred to the display control unit 7 by an operation switch, asneeded, and converted into character information by the charactergenerator of the display control unit 7.

[0045] The operation of reconstructing an image recorded by theelectronic camera 1 will be explained.

[0046] In reconstruction, the mode of the electronic camera 1 is set atthe reconstruction mode by the image-pickup/reconstruction switch 11.

[0047] When a frame number is designated by the increment or decrementswitch 12 or 13, an image corresponding to the designated frame numberis reconstructed, and image data corresponding to this frame number isread out from the recording medium 6. For example, when the first frameis to be reconstructed, image data of the first frame is read out,decoded by the encoding/decoding unit 5, and displayed on the display 8via the signal processing unit 4 and the display control unit 7. Thedisplay control unit 7 generates a character corresponding to the framenumber (in this case, 1) with the incorporated character generator,superimposes the character on the image data, and displays them on thedisplay 8.

[0048] When the user wants to reconstruct the second frame and operatesthe increment switch 12, the control unit 10 starts control toreconstruct the second frame and display the image of the second frameon the display 8 together with the frame number (in this case, 2).

[0049] Such display is similarly performed when display of the secondframe is shifted to display of the third frame, when the number of aframe to be displayed is decremented by operating the decrement switch13, and when display is shifted to a frame arbitrarily designated.

[0050] The operation of printing an image recorded by the electroniccamera 1 will be explained.

[0051] In printing, the user depresses the print switch 17. Then, aprint menu like the one shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is displayed on thedisplay 8. This print menu is made up of, e.g., two windows. A printmenu like the one shown in FIG. 4A is displayed immediately after theprint switch 17 is depressed, and the next window like the one shown inFIG. 4B is displayed after an item (NEXT) for shifting to the next pageon this menu is executed.

[0052] The print menu made up of two pages is set to allow the user toselect an item requiring a short time to execute printing from the firstpage, and to allow the user to select an item requiring a relativelylong time to execute printing from the second page.

[0053] More specifically, the print menu on the first page shown in FIG.4A displays the following items so as to allow the user to select them:SINGLE PRINT (see FIG. 5A) for printing only a selected image, INDEXPRINT (see FIG. 5B) for printing a predetermined number (e.g., 16) ofimages on one printing sheet in the order of the frame number, MULTIPLEPRINT (see FIG. 5C) for printing the same image on one printing sheet apredetermined number (e.g., 16) of times, MIRROR PRINT (see FIG. 5D) forreversing only one selected image with respect to the central verticalaxis and printing it, an item (NEXT) for shifting to the next page, andan item (END) for ending the print menu.

[0054] On the left side of these items, an arrow indicating a targetitem is displayed. The arrow moves upward by one when the user depressesthe increment switch 12, and downward by one when the user depresses thedecrement switch 13.

[0055] When the arrow moves to an item to be selected, the userdepresses the execution switch 18 to select and determine this item.

[0056] When the user executes the item (NEXT) for shifting to the nextpage out of the items shown in FIG. 4A, the next window like the oneshown in FIG. 4B is displayed. The print menu on the second page shownin FIG. 4B displays the following items so as to allow the user toselect them: PRINT ALL for printing all the images recorded on therecording medium 6, SELECT IMAGE for selecting an arbitrary image (or aplurality of images) of the images recorded on the recording medium 6,SELECT PRINT for printing all the images selected by SELECT IMAGE, anitem (PREV) for shifting to the previous page shown in FIG. 4A, and anitem (END) for ending the print menu, similar to the first page.

[0057] SELECT IMAGE is an item for selecting an image to be printed, asdescribed above. By selecting this item, images recorded on therecording medium 6 are sequentially displayed. When an image to beprinted is displayed, the user depresses the execution switch 18 to markthe image, and marked images are printed by executing SELECT PRINT.

[0058] In printing, whether attendant data, and particularly date dataare to be superimposed on image data and printed is selected from a menudisplayed by operating the menu switch 16. This will be explained withreference to FIG. 6.

[0059] Immediately after the user depresses the menu switch 16 while theelectronic camera 1 is set at the image-pickup mode by theimage-pickup/reconstruction switch 11, the first page of a menu made upof two pages like the one shown in FIG. 6A is displayed. That is, themenu on the first page shown in FIG. 6A displays the following items soas to allow the user to select them: an item for selecting the imagequality of image data to be recorded on the recording medium 6 from asuper high quality (SHQ), a high quality (HQ), and a standard quality(SQ), an item (AE+/−) for correcting the exposure, an item (ERASE ALL)for erasing all the recorded image data, an item (FORMAT CARD) forinitializing the recording medium 6, an item (NEXT) for shifting to thenext page, and an item (END) for ending the menu.

[0060] When the user executes the item (NEXT) for shifting to the nextpage, the menu on the second page shown in FIG. 6B is displayed on thedisplay 8.

[0061] The menu on the second page shown in FIG. 6B displays thefollowing items so as to allow the user to select them: an item (DATE)for setting date data, an item (BRIGHTNESS) for setting the brightness,an item (PREV) for returning to the previous page shown in FIG. 6A, andan item (END) for ending the menu, similar to the first page.

[0062] If the user selects the item (DATE) for setting date data, thefirst page of a date setting menu as a hierarchical menu lower by onelevel made up of two pages like the one shown in FIG. 6C is displayed onthe display 8. The date setting menu on the first page shown in FIG. 6Cdisplays the following items so as to allow the user to select them: anitem (YEAR) for setting the year, an item (MONTH) for setting the month,an item (DAY) for setting the day, an item (HOUR) for setting the hour,an item (MINUTE) for setting the minute, an item (NEXT) for shifting tothe next page, and an item (EXIT) for returning to the hierarchy higherby one level shown in FIG. 6B.

[0063] If the user selects the item (NEXT) for shifting to the nextpage, the date setting menu on the second page shown in FIG. 6D isdisplayed on the display 8. The date setting menu on the second pageshown in FIG. 6D displays the following items so as to allow the user toselect them: an item (FORMAT) for performing setting of each country, anitem (TIME) for setting whether the hour and minute are displayed, aprint item (PRINT) for setting whether date data is superimposed andprinted in printing, an item (PREV) for returning to the previous pageshown in FIG. 6C, and an item (NEXT) for returning to the hierarchyhigher by one level, similar to the first page. That is, in the stateshown in FIG. 6D, by setting the print item, the user can select thefirst print mode of printing only image data in printing, and the secondprint mode of superimposing date data on image data and printing them inprinting.

[0064] Display on the display 8 in accordance with the print itemrepresenting whether date data is superimposed and printed will beexplained.

[0065] When the second print mode of superimposing date data on imagedata and printing them is selected in the electronic camera 1, an imagelike the one shown in FIG. 7 obtained by superimposing the date data ofan image file on the image data is always displayed while the image fileis displayed on the display 8.

[0066] To the contrary, when the first print mode of printing only imagedata in printing is selected in the electronic camera 1, an image likethe one shown in FIG. 7 obtained by superimposing the date data of animage file on the image data is displayed for a predetermined period(e.g., 3 sec) after the display 8 starts displaying the image file.Then, the display window is switched to display of only the image data,as shown in FIG. 5A. Accordingly, the user can easily confirm whetherthe electronic camera 1 is in the first print mode or the second printmode without depressing the menu switch 16 and displaying the menu.

[0067] The above embodiment has exemplified the case of selectingwhether date data is printed. However, the present invention is notlimited to this, and whether another attendant data is printed can alsobe selected. Also in this case, similar to the above embodiment, whetherattendant data is superimposed and displayed on the display 8 only for apredetermined period after the start of the display or continuously iscontrolled in accordance with the first or second print mode.

[0068] According to this embodiment, even if the menu for setting theprint mode is not displayed, only displaying an image on the displayallows the user to easily identify whether attendant data issuperimposed and printed, which improves the operability of theelectronic camera.

[0069] The above embodiment is the first embodiment, and the secondembodiment will be described below.

[0070] In the first embodiment, when the first print mode is selected,date data is superimposed and displayed only for a predetermined time(e.g., 3 sec) after the start of displaying the image file on thedisplay 8. In this case, however, if the user wants to confirm the datacontents upon the lapse of a predetermined time after the start ofdisplaying the image file, the user must perform a cumbersome operationof switching the print mode, or temporarily displaying another image andthen displaying a target image.

[0071] In the second embodiment, when the user operates a properoperation switch (e.g., the trigger switch), date data is superimposedand displayed only for a predetermined time (3 sec), and the displaywindow returns to display of only the image. As the operation switch, adedicated one may be arranged, but the trigger switch is used to preventan increase in the number of switches. Since the trigger switch is usedin the image-pickup mode, it can be used as a date data display switchrequired in the reconstruction mode without any problem.

[0072] According to the second embodiment, when the user wants toconfirm data contents while the first print mode is selected, the useronly depresses the trigger switch to display the data for 3 sec, and caneasily confirm the data contents. After 3 sec, the display windowreturns to display of only the image, and thus the user can easilyconfirm the print mode, similar to the first embodiment.

[0073] As has been described above, according to the present invention,an electronic camera with good operability which facilitatesidentification of whether attendant data is superimposed on image datain printing can be realized. Whether at least one of the date and timeis superimposed on the image data and printed can be easily identified.Further, the data contents can be always easily confirmed.

[0074] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broaderaspects is not limited to the specific details and representativeembodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic camera comprising: an opticalsystem which includes a focusing lens for adjusting the focal point toform a subject image and an image sensing unit for converting thesubject image formed on an imaging plane thereof into an analog imagesignal and further producing a digital image signal corresponding to theanalog image signal; a signal processing unit which performs variousprocesses for the digital image signal issued from the image sensingunit; an encoding/decoding unit which performs encoding to compressoutput data issued from the signal processing unit, the compressed dataissued from the encoding/decoding unit are stored into a recordingmedium applied thereto; a printer interface which is disposed foroutputting data decoded by the encoding/decoding unit to an externalprinter connected to the electronic camera; a display device which ismounted on the electronic camera so as to display various informationwith images and/or characters; a control unit which is disposed in theelectronic camera in association with the optical system, the signalprocessing unit, the encoding/decoding unit, and the display device, andthe control unit integrally controls the electronic camera; and aplurality of switches which are disposed on the electronic camera inassociation with the control unit; wherein the control unit is capableof making the display device display a page of a menu applicable toselect an item of SINGLE PRINT for printing only a selected image, andanother page of a menu applicable to select another item of PRINT ALLfor printing all the images recorded on the recording medium, in thecase where the electronic camera is set at a printing mode for imageprinting via the printer interface, in response to an operation of apredetermined switch among the plurality of switches.
 2. The electroniccamera of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further capable of makingthe display device display a page of a menu applicable to select an itemof INDEX PRINT for printing a plurality of images on one printing sheetin the order of the frame number.
 3. The electronic camera of claim 1,wherein the control unit is further capable of making the display devicedisplay a page of a menu applicable to select an item of MIRROR PRINTfor printing a reversed image with respect to the central vertical axis.4. The electronic camera of claim 1, wherein the control unit is furthercapable of making the display device display a page of a menu applicableto select an item of MULTIPLE PRINT for printing the same image on oneprinting sheet a plurality of times.
 5. The electronic camera of claim1, wherein the control unit is further capable of making the displaydevice display a page of a menu applicable to select an item SELECTIMAGE for selectively identifying a plurality of images.
 6. Theelectronic camera of claim 5, wherein the control unit is furthercapable of making the display device display a page of a menu applicableto select an item of SELECT PRINT for printing said plurality ofselectively identified images.